Trenton Tigers (13-0) vs. Port St. Joe Tiger Sharks (11-1)
Friday, December 4, 2015 – 7:07pm kickoff
Head Coaches:
Trenton – Andrew Thomas (FSU 2000), 56-5 record at Trenton
Port St. Joe – John Palmer (Louisiana-Lafayette 1988), 23-3 record at Port St. Joe
Last Meeting:
9/11/2015 – Trenton 48, Port St. Joe 13
Last 10 years series record:
Tied 1-1
The quick slant:
It’s the second meeting of the season between the last two state champions in Class 1A. PSJ are your defending 1A Champions coached by John Palmer–who’s father Dub Palmer was HC at Hernando and where John graduated from in 1983. Trenton’s Andy Thomas defeated his high school Alma Mater Dixie County twice this season. Trenton is just 8 yards shy of reaching 5,000 yards of offense on the season–Port St. Joe has amassed over 3,700 yards on the season.
They said it best: Trenton’s Head Coach Andy Thomas
“We’re excited–it’s our ultimate goal for the end of the season to put ourselves in this situation. We’ve taken care of everything we can to this point–we’ve stayed pretty healthy. The route we had to go through having to beat teams like Fort Meade–and we were probably anticipating Pahokee in the second round and then we ended up playing Dixie County–which is a rival of ours. Getting through those guys and then going to Madison County has been quite a feat for our program–but in the end it’s about getting to Orlando and winning a state title.”
They said it best: Port St. Joe’s Head Coach John Palmer
“It’s a thrill for us to be coming back to the state championship and to be going to Orlando again–representing our community–which is an outstanding opportunity for us.
TRENTON OFFENSE: (Multiple Wing-T Option)
TE Brian Worley 6-1/210 Sr.
LT Seth Lane 6-3/225 Jr.
LG Stephan Griggs 5-8/220 Sr.
C Christian Dana 6-0/275 Sr.
RG Dakota Harding 5-9/210 Sr.
RT Rocky Bray 6-2/240 Sr.
WR Kade Rogers 6-2/210 Sr.
QB Michael Smith 5-11/170 Jr.
HB Hamp Cheevers 5-11/165 Sr.
FB Tre McCleese 6-1/215 Sr.
WR Matthew Ketcherside 5-10/150 Sr.
TRENTON DEFENSE: (4-3 Multiple)
LE Kade Rogers 6-2/210 Sr.
LT Derri Danzy 6-3/280 So.
RT Josh Smith 6-0/280 Sr.
RE Alex Kincaid 5-8/200 Sr.
LB Randy Fuller 6-0/175 So.
LB Billy McKeefrey 5-10/200 Jr.
LB Levi Murray 5-8/190 Sr.
DB Hamp Cheevers 5-11/165 Sr.
DB Brooks Martin 5-11/165 Sr.
DB Montrez Jackson 5-9/165 Jr.
S Michael Smith 5-11/175 Jr.
PORT ST. JOE OFFENSE: (“Fling T”)
LE Will Ramsey 6-2/235 Sr.
LT River Banks 5-11/230 Sr.
LG Clay Raffield 5-8/190 Sr.
C Marcell Johnson 6-0/215 Sr.
RG Jimmy Cummings 5-7/170 Jr.
RT Umstead Sanders 6-2/218 Sr.
RE Troy Williams Jr. 6-0/190 Sr.
QB Ethan Sander 6-4/220 Jr.
HB Aaron Paul 6-2/180 Jr.
FB Marshall Sweet 5-7/180 Jr.
FL Trey Sanders 6-2/180 FR
PORT ST. JOE DEFENSE: (4-3)
LE Alvin Dempsey 6-0/219 So.
LT Will Ramsey 6-2/235 Sr.
RT Tyler Monroe 6-0/210 Jr.
RE Umstead Sanders 6-2/218 Sr.
LB Marcell Johnson 6-0/215 Sr.
LB Mike Bailey 6-1/210 Sr.
LB Jasmin Thomas 5-8/180 So.
DB Aaron Paul 6-2/180 Jr.
DB Chad Quinn Jr. 6-2/180 Jr.
DB Trey Sanders 6-2/180 Fr.
S Troy Williams Jr. 6-0/190 Sr.
How they got here: (Trenton 13-0)
W, Duval Charter
 50-16
W, Bell 50-0
W, Port St. Joe 48-13
W, Dixie County 54-10
W, Chiefland 58-12
W, Bronson 49-0
W, Newberry 54-6
W, Williston 42-14
W, Branford 56-0
W, Episcopal 49-7
W, Fort Meade 51-20
W, Dixie County 42-6
W, Madison County 27-18
How they got here: (Port St. Joe 11-1)
W, Marianna 3-2
L, Trenton 13-48
W, Bozeman 56-7
W, Rutherford 41-0
W, Taylor County 35-12
W, South Walton 49-32
W, Blountstown 13-9
W, Freeport 38-6
W, Florida A&M 41-18
W, Chipley 49-0
W, Blountstown 17-14 (2OT)
W, Baker 42-13
Trenton wins IF:
Take care of the ball and hope not to get bit by the injury bug that’s stayed away this season–they’ve already blown out the Tiger Sharks once so it’s most likely not going to be a physical challenge as much as it will be a mental one to beat a team twice in one season. Step on PSJ’s throats early-and-often and set the tone.
Port St. Joe wins IF:
They can stay disciplined on defense and play assignment football. They need to get DE Umstead Sanders disrupting every play from his position if possible. PSJ must also play turnover-free football and unequivocally win the battle of field position. Score first and that might get Trenton asking themselves some questions they haven’t asked of themselves this year.